So, all of you who want to know what my primitive vacation was like, have a look - but do be patient while the pictures load.

The Pacific Primitive Rendezvous was 8 miles out of Heppner, Oregon - about 700 miles northeast of the Bay Area and a day and a half's drive each way. I actually managed to get three days' work done during the drive by hooking my laptop to the car lighter port!

Occasionally I came out to enjoy the scenery...

The site was mostly above the treeline, hilly and pretty - it looked a lot like parts of Scotland. We had lots of weather - clouds, sun, giant hail, rain and bright sunny days. But the tipi - a really amazing feat of engineering, stayed dry and the fire kept us warm.

So here is what we brought:

and here's what it turned into:

There were about 2000 people there in both colonial tents and tipis, all styled like those in 1840. The view from the hill above our camp looked out on this:


One area was called 'Tipi Village' - here's some of it:

The event started with an opening ceremony; those with good eyesight can see it here:

After that it was just life as it was when the traders set up camp at the end of the trapping season 150 odd years ago -- carousing, drinking, and having a good ole' time. I had a more gentle week than they did however. Here's how I spent some of it...
morning coffee	making dinner	hanging out

As you can see, life was hectic. There was always shopping however - and most of the Traders on Traders' Row took credit cards!
Traders Row: (click on the pictures if you want to see them enlarged).
Me, going shopping in my new blanket	On the sunny day, I wore my newly crafted leathers:

In the evenings there were campfires, bagpipes, drumming, and a couple of good ole' songfests. Here's a picture of one I particularly enjoyed:


On the last night there was a 'round robin trading blanket' where I managed to trade the two shirts I had made - one quite 'broken in', for some pewter mugs, a strand of really nice beads and an oak chair!. So that was my summer holiday. Before the next one, I'll be working on my beading and improving`my leatherwork as well as sewing new shirts.